A new strand of jewels

When we first arrived in Australia it felt like we were on vacation. As the days past and we actually began living the life you live when you aren't on holiday - cleaning house, taking the kids to school, grocery shopping, etc. I was struck by a sense of loss. The house I was living in Brisbane wasn't home. I missed my friends, my family, my life in Calgary. While I knew that we would all adjust and that my immediate family would grow closer through this, I still felt sad. It seemed like a lot of what made me happy was in Calgary.

But, like Randy Pausch said in his Last Lecture - "you just have to decide if you are a Tigger or an Eeyore." It's a choice. I could choose to be unhappy or I could chose to suck it up and "bounce" back.

Serendipitously, on a day when I was feeling particularly blue, I found an ad in Brisbane City magazine that instantly brightened my mood. The ad was for classes at the Brisbane Institute of Art. I had searched the Internet for art classes and found nothing, but with the link on this ad I found a place that offered everything from drawing to ceramics to jewelry making. With Cait and Jack both in school full-time, here was my chance. Excited, I plugged in my new credit card number and instantly became a student of the arts!

Today was the first day of my 9 week jewelry silversmithing course. I LOVED every minute of it!! I can hardly wait to go back next week. My heart feels happier.

That's not to say that I won't have down moments, or that I wouldn't give anything to hang out with my Mom and my friends in Calgary, but I do need to allow myself some happiness here. William Morris (not sure who he is but I liked his quote) said "Not on one strand are all life's jewels strung." To me that translates like this - there are lots of jewels we have in life (family, friends, things that make us happy) and they are not tied to the same strand or thread in life. You have people and things that help make you happy in one place or time in life, and things and people that help make your happy someplace else. You are free to let yourself wear many "strands" of "jewels" in your lifetime. And for those who know me.... I love necklaces!